Mcgrady Fills Missing Gap

Orlando Magic 103, Denver Nuggets 93

T-mac Hits For 36 As Hill Sits, Watches

It took Tracy McGrady 44 minutes to score a game-high 36 points. It took Darrell Armstrong 37 seconds to score the six points that won the game.

It took 12 minutes of defense to make it all happen.

Despite Grant Hill sitting out, the Orlando Magic won their fourth consecutive game Thursday by beating the Denver Nuggets 103-93, relying on McGrady all night, then springing Armstrong for a quick kill down the stretch.

The Magic (9-11) will begin a four-game, West Coast trip Monday, riding some winning momentum and the belief that Hill finally will return to action.

"The bad times are gone. We're in a good stretch now, and we're ready to keep it rolling,'' said McGrady, who had 12 rebounds. "When you are aggressive like this, good things happen. Grant will only add to that.''

It was the fifth time this season that McGrady has scored 30 points or more, and the fifth consecutive game in which he has scored at least 28, clearly establishing himself as one of the league's most dangerous players.

The Magic, after playing hot and cold throughout the night, almost suffocated the Nuggets with a franchise-record defensive performance, limiting them to one field goal (in 18 attempts) in the fourth quarter.

Denver's Antonio McDyess, who had a team-high 28 points, was held to three points in the fourth quarter, making only one of five shots against Bo Outlaw and an assortment of double-team help. Nick Van Exel, who had 19 points, was scoreless in the fourth after missing all four of his attempts.

"You play defense like that, you hold a team to that kind of shooting, and you're going to win a lot of games," Magic Coach Doc Rivers said. "No, you're going to win all your games."

It was the defense that frustrated the Nuggets, but it was Armstrong who applied the dagger at the end.

The Magic grabbed the lead for good with 3 minutes, 30 seconds remaining when Armstrong was fouled shooting a 3-pointer, converting all three free throws for a 91-89 advantage.

He followed 37 seconds later with a 3-point basket from the corner.

The Nuggets sank noticeably from there.

A couple of more free throws from McGrady and his final layup sealed the game. McGrady had seven dunks, even missing one with such force that the ball went careening into the front row of seats.

After trailing the entire third period, the Magic set the tone at the start of the fourth when McGrady blocked a breakaway layup by George McCloud. Mike Miller immediately hit a 3-pointer to tie the score. The Magic took an 81-79 lead when McGrady followed with a score on an offensive rebound.

The Magic again were without Hill, who had hinted earlier in the week that he might come off the injured list to play against the Nuggets.

Although Hill's left ankle was healthy enough to begin playing, the Magic opted to wait until the upcoming road trip to activate him.

The Magic got a surprisingly big game from Miller, who started it with a second-quarter burst that included nine points in a four-minute span. Miller was abused by the Boston Celtics two nights earlier when he committed three fouls in a 1:07 span before leaving the game for good.

Miller, who scored just nine points in the previous four games, had 19 points and five rebounds Thursday. Armstrong finished with 17 points and nine assists.

The Nuggets led 55-46 at intermission, riding 19 points from McDyess, who did as he pleased in the first two periods.

The Magic started slowly, trailing the entire first quarter.

They made a run early in the second period when McGrady played with four reserves. Pat Garrity had five points and a blocked shot in a two-minute span, and the Magic pulled ahead by three.